Dec. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Republicans are pushing back against a City Council bill that would provide legal noncitizens with the right vote in city elections. Republicans and other critics have held press conferences, launched ‘call to action’ campaigns and have publicly condemned the legislation, known as “Our City, Our Vote”, ahead of… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Christian Murray Two Queens elected leaders are urging the NYC Schools Chancellor not to end geographic priority in the high school admissions process. Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside) and State Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) sent a letter Friday to Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter in response to the Department of Education’s proposal to… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday a major expansion of the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Children will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to go to a restaurant or movie starting later this month. All private-sector employees will also be mandated to get the shot. The city… Read more »
Dec. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two cases of the COVID-19 variant known as Omicron have been detected in Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. Two Queens residents are among five New York state residents who have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, which was first identified in South Africa last month. Health officials are… Read more »
Dec. 3, 2021 By Max Parrot Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman released a draft proposal for a “streets master plan” Wednesday that is aimed at guiding bus, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure over the next five years. The 96-page plan, a product of a 2019 law sponsored by Council Speaker… Read more »
Nov. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City is on track to allow noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. City lawmakers will likely pass legislation next month that will give the city’s more than 800,000 green card holders and authorized workers the right to partake in municipal elections. The bill’s prime sponsor… Read more »
Nov. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens officials largely condemned a jury’s “not guilty” verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial Friday. Rittenhouse, who fatally shot two men and injured a third in Kenosha last year, was found not guilty on all charges including homicide after a jury deliberated for about 26 hours. Rittenhouse, who was… Read more »
Nov. 17, 2021 Staff Report Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced grant funding Wednesday to 28 community-based organizations for the implementation of her Office’s Community Youth Development and Crime Prevention Project (CYDCPP). The District Attorney’s initiative aims to provide youth activities and wrap around services to help prevent crime and keep young people out of… Read more »
Nov. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Queens borough president has launched a new initiative to educate high schoolers about city government and the importance of civic engagement. The borough president’s office is sending in staff into Queens high schools to teach students about the role city officials and elected leaders play in local government,… Read more »
Nov. 15, 2021 By Christian Murray Most New York City adults will now be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. NYC Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued an advisory Monday that allows residents 18 years and older to get a booster shot, as long as it has been at least six months since they… Read more »